Los vínculos entre el comercio y el desarrollo sostenible en la agricultura de Centroamérica

This report analyzes the intersection of international trade, sustainable development, and agriculture in Central America. It examines the impact of WTO agreements, regional trade negotiations (such as ALCA and CAFTA), and the environmental footprints of key agricultural sectors, proposing a 'Green General System of Preferences' to incentivize sustainable production.

• The European Union's approach to agriculture includes the concept of 'multifunctionality,' which views agriculture as providing public positive externalities such as 'la protección ambiental', 'preservación, ordenamiento y mejoramiento del paisaje rural', and 'viabilidad socioeconómica de las zonas rurales'.
• Central American countries face a significant risk that environmental standards may be used as 'barrera no arancelaria' to restrict access to the US market or increase production costs, leading to a 'pérdida de competitividad'.
• The report suggests that for environmental cooperation between Central America and the US, it is preferable that the agreement 'no contemple el tema de las represalias cruzadas' to avoid protectionist fears and prioritize cooperation.
• Agricultural exports from Central America to the US are heavily concentrated in agricultural products, which accounted for 49% of exports in 2000, with top products including microprocessors, coffee, bananas, and crustaceans.
• The 'Green Box' (Caja Verde) of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture provides the most legal opportunity for support in Central America, as it allows for government services in 'investigación, la lucha contra enfermedades, la infraestructura y la seguridad alimentaria' without reduction commitments.
• Most Central American countries, except Costa Rica, did not calculate their Aggregate Measurement of Support (MGA) upon joining the GATT, meaning their base level is effectively zero, which legally restricts their ability to provide 'ayudas internas' beyond 'de minimis' levels.
• Banana production in Central America is characterized by high pesticide use, with some studies suggesting levels of '35 TM de i.a./ha/año'. The process of 'control de Sigatoka' is identified as having a 'negativo severo' impact on surface and groundwater.
• Coffee cultivation in the region varies between shaded and sun-grown systems; the latter, predominant in Costa Rica, causes higher environmental impacts due to the 'aplicación de una cantidad importante de plaguicidas y fertilizantes'.
• Sugar cane production involves the practice of 'quema' (burning) before harvest to remove foliage, which results in a 'alta liberación de dióxido de carbono' and a 'negativo crítico' impact on the food chain and soil erosion.
• The poultry sector has seen sustained growth, with Guatemala as the highest producer (129 TM in 2000). Environmental impacts are concentrated in the 'tratamiento de remanentes' and 'limpieza', which release ammonia and strong odors into the atmosphere.
• Melon production is highly intensive in chemicals, with some studies suggesting use exceeding '45 TM de ingrediente activo por hectárea por año'. The use of 'Bromuro de Metilo' is highlighted as a critical negative impact on the atmosphere and ozone layer.
• The report proposes a 'Sistema General de Preferencias Verdes (SIGPREVERDE)' for developing countries, which would grant tariff advantages (such as duty-free entry for organic products) to those adopting certified sustainable agricultural programs.
• Central American agriculture is described as 'no es sostenible ni ambiental ni económicamente', driven by a dependence on foreign technology, high chemical use, and a lack of state incentives for organic conversion.
• Projections for 2010 suggest that total imports to Central America will grow faster than exports, potentially reaching $70,000 million compared to $31,000 million in exports.

APA

Murillo, C., Pomareda, C., Arce, R., Campos, A., Hernández, G., Valverde, M., & Zamora, R. (2004). Los vínculos entre el comercio y el desarrollo sostenible en la agricultura de Centroamérica. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_trade_sd_agi_es.pdf

Chicago

Murillo, Carlos, Carlos Pomareda, Randall Arce, Adriana Campos, Greivin Hernández, Max Valverde, and Rolando Zamora. Los vínculos entre el comercio y el desarrollo sostenible en la agricultura de Centroamérica. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2004. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_trade_sd_agi_es.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Murillo |first1=Carlos |last2=Pomareda |first2=Carlos |last3=Arce |first3=Randall |last4=Campos |first4=Adriana |last5=Hernández |first5=Greivin |last6=Valverde |first6=Max |last7=Zamora |first7=Rolando |title=Los vínculos entre el comercio y el desarrollo sostenible en la agricultura de Centroamérica |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2004 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_trade_sd_agi_es.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{murillo2004los, author = {Murillo, Carlos and Pomareda, Carlos and Arce, Randall and Campos, Adriana and Hernández, Greivin and Valverde, Max and Zamora, Rolando}, title = {{Los vínculos entre el comercio y el desarrollo sostenible en la agricultura de Centroamérica}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2004}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_trade_sd_agi_es.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }